Power lawn mower



May M, w36.. E. s. GEORGE ET AL MLM@ POWER LAWN MOWER Filed Feb. 2s, 1935 4 sheet's-sheet 1 www I E. S. GEORGE ET AL May; 19, `1936.

POWER LAWN MOWER Filed Feb. 28, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR EA S. GEORGE ET AL May i9, 1936.

-POWER LAWN MOWER 4 Shees-Sheet 5 Filled Feb. 28, 1935 INVENTOR 4 sheets-sheet 4 l E. s. GEORGE ET Al.

POWER LAWN MOWER Filed Feb. 28, 1935 J o Aol May 19, 1936.

||||I|llllllllllllllllllll. l I l I llll Patented May 19, 193e POWER LAWN MOWER Edwin S. George, Bloomeld Hills, and Harold L. Blydenburgh, Highland Park, Mich., assignors to The Moto-Mower Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of M Ichig Application February 28, 1935, Serial No. 8.638

and has for its object to provide a machine of this type which will have greater facility of handling and smoother operation.

An important object-is to provide an improved wheel and reel driving means.

Another object is to provide an improved reel and reel 'supporting means.

A further object is to provide an improved cutter blade arrangement whereby weeds and tall grass will be prevented from becoming entangled 1 with the reel hub and bearings.

Another object is to provide an improved control mechanism for ready manipulation and control of the source of power, the steering, and the operation of the reel.

Other objects. and advantages when directly described or indirectly implied from the favorable'arrangement of parts will become hereinafter more fully apparent as reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein our invention is illustrated by way of example, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of our improved mower with the power plant removed;

along the line 1-1 of Fig. 9 is a detail vertical section taken along the line 9-9 of Fis. 2; f

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the main frame section with the power plant removed showing a modifled form of controls;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken along the line II--II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of one 'of the drive wheel assemblies;

Fig. 13 is a. side elevation of a portion of the frame and control cam, and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line I4I4 -of Fig. 12.

More particularly, I indicates the frame of the mower supported by two main wheels 2, 3, two swivelled caster wheels 4 and a roller E. The frame includes transverse ribs 6 and rail bars `1 upon which a power plant 8 is supported. The power plant 8 has a drive shaft 9 in driving con- (Cl. 58-26) l nection by a chain I0 with a gear II edly secured on a hollow shaft I2 which is rotatably mounted about a fixed axle I3. The axle I3 is secured to and supported at each end in the frame brackets I4 which depend from the frame I, 1.

The hollow shaft I2 has thrust bearings I5 at each end thereof, and a second sprocket wheel I6 flxedly secured therearound. The wheel -I6 has a driving connection I1 with a sprocket wheel I8 fxedly mounted on a layshaft I9 supported by the bearings 20. At the left end (Fig. 8) of the layshaft is a sprocket wheel 2| having a driving connection 22 with a sprocket wheel 23 rotatably mounted on a hub element 24, which element is in xed engagement with the hub 25 of the wheel 2. The sprocket 23 has friction plates 26 at each side thereof for clutching engagement with the plates 21 and 28, one of which, 21 is integral with the hub element 24 and the other of which 28 is integral with a collar 29 slidable gg on the hub element 24 under actuation by a rocker arm 30.

It will thus be seen that power is transmitted from the power plant 8 through the sprockets I I, I6, I8, 23 and thence to the Wheel 2 through the clutch 21, 28, 29 under the influence of a rocker arm 30. The rocker arm is manually controllable or rockable by the shaft 3l through a linkage 32 to the handle 33.

The right end (Fig. 8) of the layshaft I9 carries a fixed sprocket wheel 34 having driving connection 35 with a sprocket wheel 36 exactly similar to the sprocket 23 and similarly actuated into clutching and declutching position .by a collar 31 in operative engagement with a rocker arm 38 on a rock shaft 39 which is connected by a linkage 40 to the handle 33. The sprocket 36 and clutch collar 31 are rotatable with respect to the axle 4I upon which they are mounted. The axle 4I differs from the axle I3 in that it is rotatably mounted at its ends in the bearings 42. The operation of the wheel 3 is, however the same as for the wheel 2, the layshait I9 driving the wheel through the sprocket 34 and the sprocket 36 subject to the clutch 81.

Keyed o n the axle 4I is a sprocket 43 having v driving connection 44 with a sprocket 45 which has friction elements 46 for spring pressed engagement with plates 41 carried by a collar-48. Keyed to the layshaft I9 is a clutch element 49 50 adapted for engagement with a clutchv element -50 integral with the collar 48. A rocker `arm 5I for actuating this clutch is keyed on the rock shaft 52 which-extends to a handle 53 convenient to the handle 33. On the end oi.' the handle is 55 a weight Il.. A bracket Il integral with the shaft Il provides stops or rests for the two extreme positions of the handle, as shown in Fig. 5.

. Thus the shaft ll has a rotation independent of the rotation of the wheel 3 thereon and this shaft drives a sprocket which resides outwardly of the wheel I. In driving engagement 51 with the sprocket 5l is a further sprocket 58 (Fig. 3) which is integrally connected to a reel shaft I8 carrying the cutter blades 80.

It will be understood from the foregoing that either wheel 2, l may be disconnected from and connected with the power plant 8 without regard' to the other whereby steering is facilitated. The reel l can be connected with and disconnected from the power plant 8 without regard to operation or inoperation of the wheels 2, 3 and in case' an obstruction such as a stick or other article interferes with the rotation of the reel, the frictionally held sprocket 4I will provide slippage until the handle Il, u can be thrown to inoperative position.

'I'he reel shaft 58 is hollow and rotatable on a reel axle 8| which is iixedly mounted in a forward frame portion 82 journaled at 88 in the frame side rails i. This frame portion 82 carries the front wheels l forwardly of the journal 88 and the roller 5 rearwardly of the Journal, the roller 5 being vertically adjustable at 84. The cutter bar B5 is also supported from the frame portion 82 by bolts 86 and vertically adlustable at each end by the screws 81 as shown in Fig. 9. It will be noted particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 that the cutter bar extends outwardly at least to a point directly beneath the frame 62. The reason for this is to prevent weeds and tall grass from becoming wound around the hub of the reel B8, 88.

The reel shaft 58 has clearance with the axle 8| and is iixedly secured t o the hub of the cutter reel, being in effect an enlargement of the reel shaft at each end, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, to receive anti-friction bearings 88, preferably of the inclined roller type having a spring 88 constituting a slack take up means. A thrust bearing 10 relieves friction between the frame support 82 and the reel shaft 58.

In Figs. l0V to 14 is shown a modified form of control. The frame la having cross members 8a and? connecting members 1a, and also the wheels 2a and la with their axle assemblies are the same as previously described. The handle 32a has pivotally connected thereto at each end the links1| which are identical in operation and only one will be referred to. The other end of the link 1| is pivotally connected to a rocker arm 12 pivotally supported at 13 on the frame side rail. The varm 12 has a cam surface 14 for depression of an adjustable pin 15 in a lever 18. .Rocking of the lever 18 rotates the shaft 11 which rocks the clutch finger 36a.

'I'he cutter bar clutch 48a, 50a is actuated by a clutch finger 18 mounted on the shaft 18 to rock therewith under the influence of a handle 80. That part of the shaft 18 adjacent the handle is rockably supported in a bracket 83 and outwardly of the handle 80 is a fixture 84 fixedly mounted on the shaft 19 and having adjustable abutments 85 for contact by an extension or lug 88 on the handle 88. Mounted on the frame cross member 8a is a spring 81 bent at its midpoint 88 into the path of a lug 88 integral with the handle 80. 'I'he handle 80 is freely mounted on the shaft 18 so that when it is actuated to the left from the position shown in Fig. 14, the

shaft 1l does not respond until the lug 8l has overpassed the peak of the bend "and is thereafter actuated in a snap action by the spring 81 which forcesthe lug I8 against an abutment 8l whereupon the shaft 1l isrotated by the action of the spring. This gives a rapid action to the shaft through its small angle of rotation to an extreme position. d.

.1. In-a cutter reel assembly, a hollow reel shaft enlarged at its ends, 'a fixed axle of substantially smaller diameter than the inside diameter of said reel shaft extending axially through said reel shaft, and anti-friction bearings in each of said enlarged ends supporting said reel shaft for rotation on said axle. Y

2. In a cutter reel assembly, a hollow reel shaft enlarged at each end thereof, aflxed axle extendingaxially through said reel shaft, anti-friction bearings housedby each of said enlarged ends, and a driving gear means supported by one of said enlarged-ends.

3. In a cutter reel assembly, a hollow reel shaft enlarged at each end thereof, a fixed axle extending through said reel shaft, anti-friction bearings in 'each of said enlarged ends, a cup shaped closure member around said axle secured to one of said enlarged ends. an anti-friction bearing within said closure member. and asprocket wheel integral with said closure member. 3

4. In a cutter reel assembly, a fixed axle, a reel shaft rotatably mounted on said axle, a gear member secured on said reel shaft at one end,

and a reel shaft thrust bearing encircling said axle at that end.

5. In a cutter reel assembly, a hollow reel shaft enlarged at its ends,` a fixed axle extending through said reel shaft, anti-friction bearings in each of said enlarged ends, a closure member for one of said enlarged ends having a gear member integral with the outer surface thereof and an anti-friction bearing internally thereof, and a thrust bearing encircling said axle and abutting said closure member.

6. In a lawn mower wherein a power plant is connected in driving relation with a, cutter reel through a clutch device, control means for actuating the clutch device comprising a clutch finger keyed on a rockshaft, a hand lever freely rotatable on said rockshaft having a lateral extension on each side thereof extending longitudinally of said rockshaft, spaced abutrnents on each side of one of said extensions fixed on said rockshaft, and a fixedly anchored snap spring means in the path of the other of said extensions for imparting a snap action in engaging and cils-v engaging said reel clutch.

'7. In a lawn mower wherein a power plant is connected in driving relation with a cutter reel through a clutch device operable into engaging and disengaging position in response to a relatively small actuating movement, an actuating means for the clutch device comprising a clutch finger, a manually operable lever and a snap spring devicelcomprising a bent spring mounted on the frame of the mower and extending into the path of said lever for rapidly moving said clutch finger to a position of maximum travel in response to movement of said lever.

8. In a lawn mower wherein a power plant is connected in driving relation with main wheels through individual clutch devices, means for actuating the devices comprising a manually rotatable handle, a link at each end of said handle pivotally connected thereto at one end, arms roysaid arms each having a cam face, two rockshafts, levers keyed at one end to each rockshaft and subject at their other end to actuation by said cam surfaces to rotate said rockshafts, and a clutch finger keyed on the end of each of said rockshafts for actuation of said clutch devices.

9. In a power mowera frame comprising side rails and cross members, a power plant supported on said cross members centrally. of said frame, main driving wheels below and laterally of said power plant within the vertical confines of said frame, individual driving means connecting said wheels with said power plant for independent operation thereof, and a cutter reel supported at each Iend from said frame, said cutter reel having a greater length than the gauge of said wheels whereby said wheels traverse a course l:tlrst completely traversed by said reel.

10. In a power mower, a main frame comprising side rails and cross members, a power plant -supported centrally of said frame, main wheels l frame.

11. In a power mower, a main frame coi-ripris-4 ing side rails and cross members, a power plant supported centrally of said frame, main wheels below and laterally of said power plant within the vertical confines of said frame, means individual to each of said main wheels for driving said wheels each independently from said power plant, a secondary frame pivotally mounted on said main frame forwardly of said wheels, a

cutter reel supported jointly by said frames atv the pivotal point thereof, caster wheels forwardly of said cutter reel supporting the front end of said secondary frame, and a roller rearwardly of said reel for supporting the rear end of said second frame, the journals for said reel being internally of the pivotal points of saidsecondary frame on said main frame.

12. In a power mower, a main frame comprising side rails and'cross members, a power plant supported by said frame centrally thereof, main wheels below and laterally of said power plant Within the vertical confines of said frame, means for driving each of said wheels independently from said power plant, a secondary frame having the midpoint of its side rails journaled in the front ends of said side rails, wheel means supporting each end of the side rails of said secondary frame, a fixed shaft connecting the side rails of said secondary frame, and a cutter reel journaled on said fixed shaft, with the journals thereof being inwardly of the side rails of both of said frames, said reel having greater length lthan the gauge of said main wheels, and means located within the vertical connes of both of said frames for driving said reel from said power plant.

EDWIN S. GEORGE.

HAROLD' L. BLYDENBURGH. 

